Unvaccinated Irving, still unable to play in Nets home games, sits courtside at Barclays Center

By Jacob Calvin Meyer - The Washington Times - Sunday, March 13, 2022

Kyrie Irving finally made his home debut at the Barclays Center this season.

Well, sort of.

The unvaccinated superstar — allowed to attend games in the arena as a fan but still unable to play in them due to New York City’s COVID-19 rules — attended two games at the Barclays Center this weekend. On Saturday, the former Duke star was in attendance to see the Blue Devils lose to Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, and on Sunday, he sat courtside for the Nets versus Knicks game.

Because of New York City’s COVID policy, Kyrie Irving is not allowed to play in today’s game — but he is allowed to sit courtside as a spectator. pic.twitter.com/CikVEjCUnq
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) March 13, 2022

Yes, the strange rules allow the Brooklyn point guard to attend Nets games maskless at Barclays despite not being vaccinated — just like any other fan; but due to a private-sector mandate, Irving cannot work in New York City unless he gets the jab. New York City mayor Eric Adams recently said on CNBC that “it would send the wrong message” to have an exception for Irving, who has missed all 36 of the Nets’ home games this season.

The @DukeMBB Brotherhood 😈@RjBarrett6 and @KyrieIrving are in the building for Coach K’s final ACC game. pic.twitter.com/GoKYZbBLRn
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) March 13, 2022

“Businesses have their vaccine mandate,” Adams continued. “City employees have their vaccine mandates. I have to follow the rules. And trust me, I want Kyrie on the court. We are here right now opening our city because of vaccine mandates. We can’t close down again.”

Irving was trending on Twitter on Saturday and Sunday after photos of him sitting courtside at both games were shared. Lakers star LeBron James, a former teammate of Irving’s, tweeted on Sunday that the rules allowing Irving to attend but not play in home games make “absolutely zero sense.”

FACTS FACTS FACTS!! It literally makes ABSOLUTELY ZERO SENSE!!! They say if common sense was common then we’d all have it. Ain’t that the truth. 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ #FreeKyrie https://t.co/EhAcjuMrsL
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 13, 2022

Nets star Kevin Durant also weighed in after Brooklyn’s 110-107 win Sunday, saying the rules are “stupid.”

“It’s ridiculous. I don’t understand it at all,” Durant said.

• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.